FLIGHT is not always a silent admission of guilt. I am referring to the 14 out of 357 police officers in the president’s drug watchlist who preferred to avail an early retirement.
The option, however, will not spare them from the investigation and the consequences of the wrongdoing if proven by the competent court of law.
Some of them may not be in the consciousness of guilt, being not involved in the illegal drug trade when decided to avail the early retirement. But decided so, knowing how the dirty politics inside the PNP organization would wipe them out from service.
The marking of “AWOL” to 47 out of 357 policemen who failed to undergo the drug tests, is an indication of how strong is the political wand that beats inside the organization. Why instantly marked awol without giving them the opportunity to explain?
Therefore, early retirement is among the best options if astringent cleansing in the organization is based only in “bata-bata” system from the lowest to the brass. Reality says, you cannot expect twinkling eyes at the top when you failed to tickle the balls at the bottom.
In this loathsome cleansing, Lieutenant Coronel Jovie Espenido was among those relieved from post and reassigned to the office of the PNP chief.
Espenido is the toughest blockbuster in the ongoing war against drugs and one of the most trustworthy lieutenants of the president. But his connection to the president based on dependability of performance becomes an eyesore to rivals. So the black-beaked birds tweet in a tenor that Espenido is a protector of the rivals of the Parojinog drug trade in Ozamiz.
In his leadership of Ozamiz police, he prescribed a moral recovery program and lives with it. Putting-up a huge tent adjacent to the police office as a venue for the regular bible study not only for the prisoners but the operatives as well, has never been done by any of the top officers in the PNP. His men also are enjoying the mission of a house-to-house distribution of enlightening leaflets to maintain the peace and order.
Brutus in Rome once cried to spare the good ones, referring to Antony. So that the people will comprehend that killing Caesar alone is an honorable thing to do than to be vicious murderers in the process of purging the state.
With Espenido’s exemplary performance as law enforcement officer, may the fierce hatchet of jealousy will not fall on his neck so that his compassionate effort thrives in the organization that has fallen to moral malady.